El Calafate, Argentina
EOLO embodies the spirit of Patagonia. Built on the land where the first creole and European immigrants of the area initially set foot, one can’t help but sense the aura of adventure that the thousands of travelers who journeyed through this area have left behind. Visitors not only leave their mark but also depart with a sense of having been deeply transformed by the experience.
The hotel is conveniently located halfway between the city of El Calafate and Los Glaciares National Park, yet far from the commotion of the tourist activity in the area. The 10,000 acres property is a paradise for horseback riding, mountain bike rides, trekking, bird watching and, of course, to fully enjoy the subtle elegance of the installations.
Air connections with El Calafate International Airport, (FTE) located 1 hour from the hotel:
If travelling by land on private vehicle or bus, the timings are:
From anywhere on the property, and from all of its 17 rooms, our guests can witness the magnificence of a scenery that exposes its soul to the privileged eyes that contemplate it and to the hearts that wish to feel its true essence.
Lake, steppe and/or cordillera views. Twelve rooms, each with its unique decoration, of which 2 allow an extra bed and triple occupancy. The average surface of each room is 400 square feet.
In addition to the outside window — also present in the Superior category — these rooms have a second window with a view to the hotel’s garden. There are three of these, each decorated differently. All have the option of an extra bed. Average surface is 500 square feet.
These rooms have a double window in the corner which allows the immensity of the scenery to subtly become part of the room. It is the highest category and there are only two of these rooms in the hotel. Average surface is 515 square feet.
Patagonia, as EOLO, offers outdoor options that are in line with each guest’s interests, physical condition and available time. Our options even take into account the climate oscillations of our always temperamental Patagonia. To help visitors make the choice that is right for them, we divide the itineraries per area. Our recommendation is for visitors to choose one activity per area, per day. Keep in mind that the activities that take place outside our property do have an additional cost.
We suggest guests reserve at least one day for touring EOLO and its surroundings. There are many activities that are exclusively available to our guests. The hotel has its own guide who coordinates all of the outdoor experiences: trekking, mountain bike, bird watching, four wheel drive outings, canopy and horseback riding tours.
The greatest attraction in the area and only a 50 minute ride from the hotel. Once inside the National Park, one or more of these options may be chosen: a) main viewpoint plus walkways in front of the glacier b) short duration boat cruise along the glacier’s front wall c) trekking or walk on the ice using crampons. The latter alternative may be of a short or long duration, depending on preferences.
The Upsala glacier is the largest glacier that flows from the Lago Argentino and the Spegazzini is one of the most impactful. Access to these is only a 30 minute ride from EOLO to Puerto Punta Bandera. Once in Punta Bandera, there are many options: a choice of boats allow for the possibility of navigating Lago Argentino through its icebergs, you can also visit old, traditional estancias; ride on four wheel drive vehicles through the area, kayak on the lake or trek in this beautiful setting.
El Chalten is the national trekking capital and the perfect destination from which to see — and admire — Mount Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Viedma Glacier and Lago del Desierto. The town is two and a half hours away. Those who wish to experience this adventure but prefer not to stay overnight in El Chaltén have the option of doing it as a daylong excursion. Guests who have more time may add other alternatives like four wheel drive tours, a visit to the Ice Museum (Glaciarium), hikking in the Roca Lake area, fly fishing or a city tour of El Calafate.
There are two ways of understanding this territory. The first is the way an encyclopedia would describe it. It is known that Patagonia stands in the southern tip of both Argentina and Chile and that, with the exception of the Antarctic, it is the last land inhabited by man. This extreme condition is still the inspiration that leads travelers to explore its confines. The presence of Los Glaciares National Park in its territory — an extension that seems infinite and houses over 300 glaciers — is also well known. An encyclopedia would tell you that 47 of those glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and that the Perito Moreno Glacier (declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1981) is the most extraordinary of them all with a front that stretches across 3 miles and a height of 200 feet above the lake’s water level.
The second way of understanding Patagonia has nothing to do with facts and figures. It is a place of wonder. One thing is to know the measurements of the Perito Moreno Glacier and quite another to stand in front of its grandness and listen to the creaking of the ice as it moves and the crashing sound when parts of it fall into the lake. All of the surroundings also offer unequaled beauty: the hills and mountains, the lakes and rivers, the aridness of the land contrasting with the sculptures of ice, the silence. It is all a dramatic and breathtaking work of nature. A place you will undoubtedly want to return to.
The hotel’s gastronomy brings together the best of the two worlds that compose EOLO: our chef — Juan Pablo Bonaveri — who has been in charge of the restaurant for the past five years — uses and optimizes regional products while, at the same time, applying international cuisine techniques and aesthetics. The result has his personal signature, one which values our origins and heritage without losing the cosmopolitan touch. This balance is present in every one of the dishes that we offer our guests.
Breakfast may be accompanied by the mesmerizing sunrise, lunch in front of the immensity of the scenery, teatime is the time to get to know our delicate selection of blends accompanied by some exquisite pastry pieces. The bar is also an ideal place to relax — before or after dinner — and to exchange anecdotes and experiences of the day’s journey. All of our wines come exclusively from Argentine wineries. We toured the country’s top vineyards selecting the best labels for the enjoyment of our guests.
Discovering Patagonia